St. “Rock" Church

1118 North Grand Blvd. St Louis, MO 63106 314-533-0304 (ph) 314-533-4260 (fax) [email protected] (e-mail) www.stalphonsusrock.org (website)

Rev. Stephen Benden, C.Ss.R., Pastor Rev. Rodney Olive, C.Ss.R., Associate Pastor Mission “To Joyfully Preach, Teach, and Live the Word of God”

Theme “One Hundred Fifty Years of Standing on the Rock”

PASTORAL STAFF

Sharon Cooney-Smith, Dir. Religious Education Roberta George, Secretary Deborah Grant, Clerical Support Angela Harris, Bulletin Editor

SUPPORT STAFF

Bro. Terry Burke, C.Ss.R., Plant Manager Bro. Steve Fruge, Pastoral Staff Terrance Gipson, Maintenance Terri Schneider, Dir. Hardin Food Pantry Athletic Office: 314 533-0304 Teen Ministry: 314 533-0304

MUSIC MINISTRY

8:15—Malcolm Speed 11:00—Danny duMaine

REDEMPTORISTS IN RESIDENCE

Rev. Tom Donaldson, C.Ss.R. Rev. Dave Polek, C.Ss.R. Rev. Peter Schavitz, C.Ss.R.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (Call for Appointment)

SUNDAY MASSES: 8:15 & 11:00 a.m.

DAILY MASSES: Monday 5:30 p.m. (W. Th & F.) 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays: 11:30 a.m. Saturdays: 9:30 a.m.

MONDAY:

Eucharistic Adoration 4:30 p.m.—5:15 p.m.

TUESDAYS:

Exposition & Benediction: 10:30 a.m.—11:30 a.m. (1st — Tuesday) followed by our Perpetual Help Novena & Mass TWENTY—THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 08, 2019

Weekly Readings… This week we want to welcome our 3 new Sunday: who have been assigned to our community. They will be a Wis 9:13-18b/Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, welcomed addition to our Redemptorist house. We 14-17 [1]/Phlm 9-10, 12-17 Lk 14:25-33 hope you all take the time to reach out to Fr. Rodney Monday: Olive, Bro. Steve Fruge and Fr. Pete Schavitz and give Col 1:24--2:3/Ps 62:6-7, 9 [8] Lk 6:6-11 them a welcoming in the ROCK tradition. It will take Tuesday: some time for all of us to get to know one another, and we Col 2:6-15/Ps 145:1b-2, 8-9, all need to be patient. Things will all work out, but we need to give everyone 10-11 [9]/Lk 6:12-19

the space they need to grow into their new roles. Wednesday: Col 3:1-11/Ps 145:2-3, 10-11, 12-13ab [9]/Lk 6:20-26 Today we have a very interesting story in St. Paul’s letter to Philemon. Thursday: Philemon was a slave owner, and he had a particular slave called Onesimus. Col 3:12-17/Ps 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6 Onesimus has gotten to know St. Paul and has become a Christian. In this [6]/Lk 6:27-38

letter, Paul is asking Philemon to take Onesimus back, not as a slave, but as a Friday: in Christ. This was not an easy request. I am not sure if Philemon 1 Tm 1:1-2, 12-14/Ps 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 11 [cf. 5]/Lk 6:39-42 treated Onesimus in the same way the slave owners treated slaves here in this Saturday: country, but it was asking a lot of Philemon to give Onesimus his freedom, Nm 21:4b-9/Ps 78:1bc-2, 34-35, and not only that but embracing Onesimus as an equal in the fellowship of 36-37, 38 [cf. 7b]/Phil 2:6-11/Jn 3:13-17 Christ. Sunday: Ex 32:7-11, 13-14/Ps 51:3-4, This story got me wondering about my attitude in how I might treat people. 12-13, 17, 19 [Lk 15:18]/1 Tm Although you and I are not slave owners in the traditional sense, I wonder, at 1:12-17/Lk 15:1-32 or 15:1-10 times, if I might still have an attitude of control of another and not allowing a person to exercise their freedom around me. This thought takes some

thinking about on our part. Even though we would consider owning another

person and keeping them bound as a slave is wrong, it is also wrong to have AND SPECIAL such a holding control of a person that they can hardly make any move at all OBSERVANCES

without our permission. I have known many controlling people in my life, Sunday: where everyone walks on eggshells around that person, fearing not to upset 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Grandparents' Day them in any way. This is a very subtle way of owning another person or persons. Monday: St. , Priest

Wednesday: In the gospel today, Jesus talks about loving God above all else. This is an Patriot Day

important thing for us in our lives, but we do have to put some flesh on this Thursday: The Most Holy Name of Mary thought. Jesus is not calling us to abandon or hate another in the traditional sense, but to love them without regard for their station in life. We must learn Friday: St. , Bishop & to love another and accept that we can’t control them. We must give them

their freedom and allow them to develop into the person God is calling them Saturday: to be. In this way, we are passing on our love of God in such a way that they The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

can take ownership of their own lives, and develop for themselves, a love of Sunday: God and neighbor. 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Catechetical Sunday

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SISTER CANCER SUPPORT MINISTRY

On Sign Me Up Sunday, September 15, 2019, we invite you to come by our table. We will have prayer request slips available to list someone you know who has been diagnosed NOTE: Names will remain listed for 2 weeks with cancer or is in remission.

INTENTIONS 08/27/19 Jackson, Harry As Father announced a few Sundays ago, you may make Cummings, Alice LaBerta, Steve this prayer request with a first name (only). These names Daily, Marvin Lane, Joan will be placed in the Sister Thea Bowman Shrine at the Dailey, Nikia Latham, Jean Rock to be prayed for daily.

George, Roberta Moore-Jones, Brenda We will also have copies of the Prayer for the Schneider, Terri Pointer, Patti of Sr. Thea Bowman at our table on Sign Me Up Sunday. INTENTIONS 09/03/19 Remsberg, Cory Sgt. Ambus, Ruby Sanders, Elaine  Prayer request forms can also be picked up at the Sister Thea Candies, Aeryn Schneider, Roy Bowman Shrine at the Rock. Please place this request in the Schnelle, Laverne box at the usher station. Cloyd, Cori Cloyd, Kalonda Smith, Melba  Thomas-Cheeks, Madelaine Please consider joining our ministry, you do not have to have George, Darrion a cancer diagnosis to join us. Cancer has touched many lives Jackson, Tamica Thompson, Mary Ann Weaver, Stephen (family members, friends and acquaintances). Parran, Kristin Pickett, DaShaun Williamson,  On Sunday, September 29, 2019 after the 11:00 a.m. Mass, Vet, Alphonso Reedy, Judy we will be showing the Emmy-award winning video about Reedy, Sid SICKNESS 09/03/19 Sister Thea Bowman. The video is approximately 30-35 Smith, Paulette Ambus, Larry minutes. Please join us in the gym after Mass. Quain, Pat Downs, Roger

SICKNESS 08/27/19 Fisher, Kyle Fr. Atherton, Andrew Greer, Lois Opportunities at Regina Cleri Atherton, Vertibe Luster, Juanita Mosby, Jerry Banks, Anita Regina Cleri, located at 10 May Dr. St. Louis, MO Calhoun, Debi Mozee, Karen 63119 is an independent living community for Retired Priests, has Caprese, Brittany Muldrow, Stephanie Ortwerth, Gloria the current job opportunities: Chapman, Bonnie Cummings, Cleophes Parran, Rodrick Reedy, Christian Housekeeper part-time M-F morning shifts pays $10.30 per hour, Donaldson, Tom Fr. and full-time & part-time Kitchen/Dining Room Server Fitzsimmons, Dan Sams, Mary 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m. split shifts pays $9.79 per hour. Gipson, Sandra Valle, Jr., Robert (Bobby) Voss, Greg Hood, Rosalind All positions have health insurance and benefits available on first Watkins, Darnell (Chef D) Howard, Yvonne day of hire.

This is rewarding work where you will find yourself serving our retired Archdiocesan Priests. Submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected] or call Mike at 314-792-7742. SHUT-IN’s Barnes, Lillian McCoy, Carolyn Bohannon, Ida Peters, Mae Brack, Dorothy Lwanga Center News... Steen, Irma Lee, Rosemary Thomas, Bernice You are invited to “Poverty, Family Structure, and the Way McCoy, Bernice Turner, Hortense Forward”, featuring sociologist Dr. W. Bradford Wilcox with presentation and panel discussion. Saturday, Prayer For Renewed Strength September 14, 2019, 9:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. at St. Louis

O Lord, my God, University-Busch Student Center. Free admission and Please give those listed above the grace to parking. Registration required on-line at: svdpstlouis.org/ register or call (314) 881-6008. maintain their hope in You Through all of life’s changes The Lwanga Center is among the co-sponsors. and to taste and see Your goodness. Amen

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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION... LITURGY NOTES...

BAPTISM GUIDELINES: What do we think we're doing when a we kneel down at the child's bedside and say Newborn – 6 years old. A parent or legal guardian together, "God bless grandma and grandpa" and godparent(s) must attend a preparation and "God help Uncle Harry find a job"? Or class, instruction materials are provided. what is the point of our reader or singer coming forward each Sunday and asking the assembly to pray for this, that and the other thing? There are lots of Ages 7 – 10: The child must attend special Baptism valid ways to think about praying for someone or preparation classes and the parent(s) or legal guardian something. One beginning point is the psalms. What strikes and godparent(s) must attend a Baptism preparation me if I recite these ancient Jewish prayers that became the session to the ceremony. core of the Christian prayer book is this: The person who wrote Ages 11 – 17: The young person must enroll in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC) program. And for centuries the churches hardly ever gathered without Age 18 and Older: The Candidate must enroll in the a time for naming the needs of that day. Mornings, Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) evenings, Sundays. Always the Christians rolled out their list of urgent concerns: peace, health, good weather, strength program. in the face of hardship, the poor. This kind of praying was thought of as something a baptized person had to do. It was, MATRIMONY – Engaged couples, seeking to be in fact, something the unbaptized catechumens were not married at the Rock Church, must meet with the allowed to do. They couldn't do eucharist, they couldn't give Pastor before setting a date. the peace greeting, and they had to be sent out before the baptized people did those intercession prayers. It was that RCIA/RCIC – ARE YOU SOMEONE OR DO important. YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO…

•Has expressed an interest in becoming Catholic?

•Has a child over the age of seven who has not been baptized?

•Was baptized Catholic as a child, but has not celebrated the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist?

We offer an opportunity to come together in a group No one ever said: It isn't working, folks, let's quit. We pray to learn more about the Catholic Faith. Sessions and pray and there are still poor people, still sick people, still focus on the teachings and experience of the Church all kinds of evil. But interceding was what Christians and prepare individuals to celebrate the Sacraments did-like living thankfully, like sharing with those in need. of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. There are The baptized were trained in this kind of praying. So are we. separate sessions for children and youth. You are In our book of prayer, in our book of the names of the welcome to participate in the process with your dead, with our children at bedside each night, with the sick questions, insights and your faith story in a warm when we visit them, by ourselves - and here in our liturgy accepting setting. every Sunday week after week. Year after year, can we get louder? Put more of our heart and soul in these prayers?

For information on requesting any of the above Sacraments and/or to register for classes, please contact the Director of Religious Education, Sharon Cooney-Smith at 314-533-0304 Copyright© 2001 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training ext. 1001, or via e-mail @ [email protected]. Publicationswww.ltp.org. Text by Gabe Huck. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS PARISH EVENTS

Grill to Glory Chris’s Pancake Breakfast Barbeque September 8, 2019 Chris Pancake Breakfast TODAY! 10:00 a.m.—1:00 p.m.

September 14, 2019 Grandparents Day

Join us for Fun,

Exercise, Games and Food! September 15, 2019

Sign Me Up Sunday

11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Parish Gym

After both Masses All-You-Can-Eat September 22, 2019 Pancakes Installation of New Pastor Fr. Steve Benden After both Masses

Purchase Plate(s) At The Door

Mother Of Senior Rock In Action Perpetual Help from the Peace and Justice Devotion and Mass Committee First Tuesday meeting cancelled Tuesdays’ for September ONLY! The next movie in our series 11:30 a.m. with the College Church is Field Trip SELMA, the historical drama, Wednesday, September 18, 2019: directed by Ava Duvernay, based on the 1965 Selma to

Harris Stowe University Montgomery voting rights Mondays’ marches led by James Bevel, Jazz and Blues Memory 4:30 p.m.—5:15 p.m. Williams, Martin Luther King Jr., and 3026 LaClede Ave John Lewis What a beautiful thing to be able to sit St. Louis, MO 63103 Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m., movie at quietly with the Lord. This will be 6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 12th. followed by mass at 5:30 p.m.. I hope you can make time for Jesus. Lunch: 11:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m. Sign-up sheet on the ushers' table Please use the entrance off the parking Soul Food (all you can eat) St. Louis University Campus lot to enter the Church. $5.00 Tegeler Hall

3550 Lindell Blvd FREE—All Are Welcome Catholic Divorce Ministry Conference After lunch, Mr. Bernie Hayes will take us on this exciting September 14, 2019 Photo Directories Are Here! 9:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. journey If you participated in the LifeTouch For more information contact: photo session, please contact the parish Cardinal Rigali Center office for your free copy of the Parish 20 Archbishop May Dr. Directory. 314 533-0304 St. Louis, MO 63119 Eleen McClue: 314 995-3032 Speakers: Joe Miller, Reola Weaver: 314 533-9953 Turf Martin, Fr. Aaron Nord, and Bishop Robert Hermann

Parish Office: 314 533-0304 Visit www.nacsdc.org for more information or to register

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ROCK Church Winners Club Financial Corner...

Current Members New Season

General Fund Actual Contributions Received September 2019—August 2020

th st AUGUST / September 25 01 Virginia Brown Envelopes $ 6,361.00 $ James Buford Susan Buford Loose Donations $ 533.00 $ Anne Marie Clarke Anne Conte Total Contributions $ 6,894.00 $ Janice Englander Weekly Target Amount $12,000.00 $12,000.00 Kurt Englander Wanda Garner Under/Over Weekly Target $( 5,106.00) $ Pat Jackson Angela Harris

Stewardship Prayer… Kalyn Harris

That we may come to recognize that everything we have is a gift Sharon Hawthorne from God and we are called to generously share all of our gifts. Mark & Linda Kamp Monica Huddleston Donald and Joyce Jones “Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions Brenda McDonnell cannot be my .” (Luke 14:33) Linda Brown Reed

When we first hear this statement, it seems that Jesus is making an unrealistic demand upon us. How can we renounce all of our possessions? We need them to live. However, what we must renounce is the belief that they belong to us. Everything that we have belongs to God alone. All of our resources are entrusted to us Ladies at the ‘Rock’ not only for our own use, but also so that we can help others. Once we renounce the idea that we possess or are entitled to anything, it Thank you for inviting Ignited For Christ Dance is much easier to share the many gifts that God has given us. Then Ministry to your WATW Day of Reflection we truly are His Disciples. 2019.

One of the ladies asked for my contact infor- mation and it is as follows:

Makia V. Hardy 810 Forest Ave. Belleville, Illinois, 62220

Email: [email protected]

CASH APP:$ignitedforChrist

Dynamic Catholic, Alive! – Proper Ordering of Love Phone: (618) 580-7326

Does Jesus really think we should “hate” our fathers and mothers in order to follow Him? Well, not unless He decided Check or Money Order: Please make out to to repeal the Fourth Commandment. Rather, in keeping with Makia Hardy (until we get our official account the Fourth Commandment, our first and most necessary with our name). Also, please visit our FB page “honoring” goes to God our Father. If our family members Ignited for Christ-Arts Ministry for updates on draw us away from this truth, then true discipleship calls us all that we are doing! to cling all the more to Him Who made us. Love God first and always. (CCC 2067, 2197-2200) archstl.org/dynamic Thank you! Lots of love! Kia and Dancers

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OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PRAYER MEMORIALS

Tillie Mae Alexander, Hortense Anderson, Elizabeth Henckler Aton Mother Dorothy Granberry Bennett, Deacon Morris E. Bohannon, Willie Steve Bowens, Dorothy Brady Theodore Branch, Jr., Irma King Brown, Kenita Bush, Anna Chopin, Betty Jean Colbert Charmaine Davenport, Walterene Dougherty, Sr. Antona Ebo, FSM, Fields Ossie R. Foster, Queen E. Dunlap Fowler, Craig Franklin, Willie Goss, Ann Marie Hatchett Cherry Ophelia Jackson, Mark Jones, Mother Ruth Jones, Eldwyn Lewis, Leon Zack McClendon Marshall Mosley, Lucille Palmer, Kathy Lin Cheers Parran, Drenea Sanders, Eugene Sanders Christine Slaughter, Susan Colbert Threats, Ralph Tyler, Robert Valle, Juanita West Marlene Williams, Richard Williams, Clarence Zacher

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Sharon Cooney-Smith, DRE Kurt Englander 314-533-0304 ext. 1001 President Vice President

RCIA/RCIC Linda Brown Reed Ben Phillips Children’s Liturgy of the Word Wanda Caldwell Angela Thames Baptism Joy Camp Travis Threats First Reconciliation Mike Coffman Eric Thurman First Communion Rhonda Graham Kevin Triggs Confirmation Linda Kamp Matrimony

ATTENTION COMMISSIONS & CHAIRS If your telephone number or address has changed, please Christian Formation Jean Anthony contact the office at 533-0304. You may also put your updated Christian Service Sheila Grigsby information in the locked multipurpose box located on the Finance & Adm. Monica Huddleston north-side entrance ushers’ table. Liturgy Richard Buckley Social Life Rose Graham Youth & Young Adults TBD Bulletin announcements must be in the office by 12 noon Tuesdays. Please fax items to 314 533-4260 or e-mail to COMMUNITY HELP [email protected]

Wilhelmina Hardin Food Pantry Terri Schneider, Dir. of Wilhelmina Hardin Food Pantry (Emergency Aid) (314) 531-1040 ANOINTING OF THE SICK & VISITS St. Charles Lwanga Center (314) 367-7929

Community Health In Partnership Services (C.H.I.P.S.) "Is anyone sick among you? Call in the priests of the church (314) 652-9231 and they will pray for the sick person and anoint them with oil." (James) This is the sacrament of the sick. ARE YOU Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH) SERIOUSLY SICK, GOING TO THE HOSPITAL OR HAVING (314) 289-7523 AN OPERATION? Call and leave your hospital information at HIV/AIDS: 314 531-0304 Ext. 1502 the office.

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